Cylindrical domestic refrigerator



Nov. 8, 1949 w. l.. MORRISON CYLINDRICAL DOMESTC RERIGERATOR Filed Feb. 9, 1945 5 Shets-Sneet 1 @MMM Nov. 8, 1949 w. L. MORRISON 2,437,259

CYLINDRICAL DOMESTIC R'EFRIGERATOR Nov. 8, 1949 w. l.. MoRRxsoN 2,487,259

GYLINDRICAL DOMESTIC REFRIGERATQR Nqv. 8, 1949 w. L. MoRRlsoN 2,487,259

.cYLINDRIcAL'DoMEsTIc REFIRIGERATOR Filed Feb. 9, 1945 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 8, 1949 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CYLINDRICAL DOMESTIC REFRIGERATOR Willard L. Morrison, Lake Forest, Ill.

Application February 9, 1945, Serial No. 576,972

' s claims. (ci. ca -11s) My invention relates to an improvement in refrigerators and is particularly adaptable to, but not limited to domestic electrical refrigerators.

One purpose is to provide a two temperature domestic refrigerator.

Another purpose is to provide a refrigerator in which a lower storage portion is formed or surrounded by a circumferentially extending evaporator, while the upper portion is located above said evaporator.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for supporting the material stored in a domestic refrigerator.

Another purpose is to provide improved means for closing a domestic electric refrigerator when it is not in use.

Another purpose is to provide a combined door andv material support for electric refrigerators. wherein the material stored can be readily, bodily removed from the refrigerator when the door is open.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate the invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section;

Figure 2 is a section on Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section similar to Figure 2 with the door in a different position;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure '1 is a section on the line 'I-l of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale:

Figure 8 is a section on the line 9 8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a plan view of an ice tray;

Figure 10 is a section on the line Ill-I0 of Figure '7, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 11 is a section on the line II-II of Figure 3, on an enlarged scale; and

Figure 12 is a section on the line I2-I2 of Figure 3.

Like parts are throughout the specication and drawings.

Referring to the drawings I is any suitable base having lower downward ground .engaging strips 2. 3 is a disc of insulating material, such as fiber, cork or the like, mounted on the upper surface of the base I. It may be positioned for example the une 2 2 of indicated by like symbolsby a generally central dowel 3a which extends into appropriate recesses in the upper surface of the base I andA in the lower surface of the insulating disc 3. 4 generally indicates an evaporator having a bottom wall 5, shown as having a downward extension 6 seated in a centering aperture l in the upper face of the insulating disc 3. Surrounding the exterior of the insulating disc 3 is an outer wall 8 which may be of sheet metal or any other suitable exible material and which, when the refrigerator is completed, forms a cylindrical tensional outer housing member. Extending upwardly from the circumferential edge of the evaporator bottom wall 5, is an inner cylinder 9 and an outer cylinder III. The two cylinders may be of sheet metal and define between them a space II which extends circumferentially about`the evaporator and which receives a liquid refrigerant for evaporation. The cylinders 9 and I0 are shown as sealed together at their upper and lower edges as at I2 and I3 respectively. One of the cylinders, for example the outer cylinder, may be deformed to provide a series of circumferential passages or enlargements which are in communication with or form part of the space II between the two cylinders. I illustrate for example a lower enlargement I4, an intermediate enlargement I5, and an upper enlargement I6. Above the enlargement I6 the walls are sealed together as at I1. Above the sealed area is an additional enlargement I8 the interior of the space defined by which is separate from the space I I. The space within the enlargement i4 serves as a bottom distributing manifold 20 with an inlet member 2I. The space within the enlargement I5 is an intermediate distributing'space or manifold. The space 22 within the enlargement I6 serves as a discharge manifold. In assembling the device the evaporator 4 is positioned as' shown in Figure 1 and the outer housing or layer is positioned surrounding the disc 3 and engaging part of the outer periphery of the base I. After the tubing which is below described is in position, relatively soft insulation 25 is firmly packed into the space betweentheouter wall I0 of the evaporator and the wall 8. yThe result is a provision of a rm self supporting structure. The upper surface of the insulation material 25 may be closed and compacted by any suitable ring or body 26 of somewhat firmer insulating material, such as ber board. A layer of any suitable heat insulating material 21 may be 4positioned above it. it being important Athat no heat conducting material or members extend between the cylinders 8 and I0. 'Note also that the body or ring 21 extends inwardly above the upper edge of the evaporator. An upper finishing plate or ring 29. may be positioned upon the body 21, with its downwardly extending inner flange 30 spaced inwardly from and out of heat conducting relationship with the evaporator. The outer upwardly extending flange 3| of the ring 29 receives and centers any suitable inner shell 32 for the upper part of the refrigerator. An outer shell 33 is also employed, which is shown as extending downwardly about the upper edge of the outer cylinder 8 of the lower part of the refrigerator. Any suitable stiening or supporting or bracing or spacing means 34 may be employed in the form for example of curved wooden strips. 35 indicates any suitable insulation between the shells 32 and 33. The top of the upper refrigerator space may be covered by any suitable roof structure. I illustrate a roof having an outer shell 36, an inner or lower shell 31, and an intermediate insulating material 38. The top strip, or strips 39 may be employed as shown in Figure 1. The upper refrigerator structure, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 has a door opening extending about something near 160 degrees of arc which is iilled by the below described door structure. The doorway may have at each side any suitable frame member or stiffening, for example the vertical wooden members 40, 4| to which the edges of the shells 32 and 33 are secured. Any suitable means may be employed for preventing any direct conduction of heat from the exterior to the interior of the refrigerator. It will be understood that any suitable heat break may be employed to separate the inner shell 32 from the outer shell 33, along the vertical posts or frame members 40, 4|. Or, if desired, the inner and outer shell may be made of material which does not readily conduct heat, in which event no heat break is necessary. I may for example employ sheets of Bakelite or some other suitable plastic. Suitably hinged in the doorway space is a door generally indicated as 45 which includes an inner shell 46, an outer shell 41, intermediate strengthening strips of wood or other suitable material 48 and vertical end strips 49. 50 indicates any suitable insulation lling the space between the shells and the intervening supports. It will be understood that the provision as to the use of a heat break applies to the doors as well as to the fixed part of the upper portion of the refrigerator. indicates a fixed hinge bracket and 52 a movable hinged portion pivoted to the bracket as at 53. 54 is an exterior bracing element extendingr across the entire width of the door and carrying any suitable locking device 55 which cooperates with any suitable fixed locking abutment 56. Preferably the locking element is so arranged as to subject the member 54 to tension when the locking lever 51 is moved to the locking position. Thus the door is compressed into position and a tight seal is maintained. I may for example employ any suitable yielding sealing strips 58 which may advantageously be positioned on the door structure itself. I prefer to have the door carry supporting means for the material within the upper part of the refrigerator. I illustrate for example supporting members which include a circumferentially extending ring 60 with an inwardly extending flange 6| with a plurality of transversely extending parallel inverted channels 62 upon which the material' to be supported may be positioned but which are separated to permit circulation of air. As shown in Figure 11, I illustrate two such supporting members. Any suitable number may be employed, depending upon the size and shape of the refrigerator. Upon the upper of the two trays shown in Figure 11, I illustrate a third tray generally indicated at H0 which may be mounted as upon columns or supports III, upon the upper of the two above described trays. It is effective to support material which it is desired to keep at low temperature, as the articles positioned thereupon are located immediately below the ice cube freezing evaporator.

In the upper part of the refrigerator I illustrate an ice forming device shown in some detail in Figures rI to 10. I illustrate for example an upper cold plate A and a lower cold plate B. The upper cold plate A is formed of an upper metal plate 65 and a lower metal plate 66. These plates are sealed at their edges as at 61 and are spaced apart and supported by intermediate braces or connectors 68. A central collar 69 defines an open interior passage 10. The space between the plates 65 and 66 is adapted to receive any suitable liquid refrigerant which may be circulated therethrough for evaporation. The plate B is similarly formed with an upper metal plate 65a, a lower metal plate 66a, a circumferential seal 61a, intermediate braces 68a and a central collar 69a. 1| are any suitable supporting sleeves through which pass bolts 12 by which the plate or freezing structure may be supported from the inner roof shell 31. Any other suitable supporting means may be employed. Positioned on the freezing assembly is a lower drip pan including a circumferentially extending wall 13 with a bottom double wall 14 with insulation 15 between its two layers. After defrosting, the drip pan itself may be removed for removal of the water. The drip pan may for example have an inwardly extending flange 16 provided with a plurality of notches 11 which can be brought into register with lugs 18 outwardly extending from the lower plate B. Therefore, when it is desired to remove the drip pan it is slightly rotated until the lugs and notches are aligned and may then be downwardly withdrawn. Within the space between the upper cold plate A and lower plate B, I may insert any suitable ice tray. I illustrate for example a tray including a bottom disc |30 and a circumferential side wall |3I. |32 is any suitable removable grid adapted to separate the water, when frozen, into ice cubes. |33 is a handle lug to which is pivoted as at |34 a bell crank lever having a handle component |35 with its handle bar |36 and a lifting component |31, the lower end of which engages the upper face of the lower plate B. It will be understood that a lift of the handle bar |36,`causing the lever component |31 to move in a clockwise direction, will raise the bottom |30 of the ice trayand break the seal or frozen bond between it and the top of the lower evaporator cold plate B, permitting the ice tray to be readily removed. As will appear in Figure 7, only three of the vertical supports 12 are employed, these being spaced 90 apart. Thus 180 of the space between the plates A and B is open. for the insertion and removal of the ice tray structure.

The lateral extension of the base l, as at la serves as a machinery platform. The machine space is surrounded by any suitable louvred side wall structure which includes vertical supports 8|. 83 is a top wall or closure through which extends any suitable knob 84. Within the machinery compartment so formed I may position any suitable refrlgerating mechanism. I illustrate for example a supporting bracket structure 89 which supports any suitable motor 8l, and any through an aperture 88a in the wall 88. It is not normally employed by the user. 90 is a delivery duct along which condensed liquid refrigerant may flowv from the receiver 9i. It is shown as extending to the space withinl the enlargement I8. The space is separated as at I8a, whereby the refrigerant makes a substantially complete circuit about the upper potrion of the refrigerator before it passes alongfthe duct 92 to any suitable expansion valve 93 the details of which do not form part of the present invention. The refrigerant, at appropriately reduced pressure, flows along the' duct 94 to the interior of the bottom evaporator plate structure B. It passes thence by the duct 95 to the interior of the topevaporator plate structure A. 4It passes thence along the duct 96 to the distributor space 28 within the bottom enlargement Il of the cylindrical evaporator. It will be understood that the interior of the evaporatoris so formed and proportioned that the unevaporated liquid refrigerant evaporates substantially uniformly throughout the space between the cylinders 9 and I0. The refrigerant, now largely or substantially entirely evaporated, escapes from the upper distributor space 22 along the return duct |98, to the compressor 81. From the compressor it passes by the duct IIII to the condenser 88 and thence by the duct |02 to the receiver 9|. Any suitable control means may be employed, the details of which do not form lpart ofthe present invention. I illustrate for example a control bulb 93a for the expansion valve 93, connected thereto by any suitable duct 93h. The knob 8l Amay be employed, through any suitable actuating system, to control the temperature of the refrigerating system, the detailsof such control means not forming part of the present invention. Appropriate means may be employed whereby the operation of the system may be interrupted by a predetermined rotation or movement of the knob 94 for defrosting. It will be n movable unitarily therewith, said food supporting means extending substantially across the interior of said cabinet when the door is closed.

2. In a refrigerator, a base, an open topped evaporator, positioned on said base, -surrounding and `circumferentially defining a storage space, a layer of insulation underlying and surrounding said evaporator, and a storage cabinet positioned above said evaporator, the interior ofthe cabinet being in communication with the storage space surrounded by said evaporator, said cabinet including insulated walls, top and` door, and one .or more horizontally extending air -pervious food supporting shelves mounted on and. unitarily movable with said door, said shelves extending substantially across the interior of the cabinet whenithe door is closed. y

3. In a refrigerator, a base, an open topped evaporator, ,positioned on said base, surrounding and circumferentially defining a storage space, a layer of vinsulation underlying and surrounding said evaporator, and a storage cabinet positioned above said evaporator, the interior of the cabinet being in communication'with the storagespace surrounded by said evaporator; said cabinet including insulated walls, top `and door, an additional evaporator, adapted to freeze. ice cubes, located within and adjacent the top oiv the cabinet, and food supporting means mounted on said door and movable unitarily therewith, including a portion adapted to support food closely adjacent said last mentioned evaporator. Y

4. In a refrigerator, a base, an open topped evaporator, positioned on said base, surrounding understood that, when this defrosting takes place the eiect on the cold and well insulated lower evaporator l will be very slight and will be insuilicient to raise the contents of the lower chamber within the evaporator indicated at C to dangerously near the freezing temperature. I may employ any suitable time limit means whereby, after a predetermined and relatively short period, the system returns to normal after the knob 84 has been set to the cutoff or defrosting position.

With reference to the insulated partition 1l, 15. it is effective to prevent exterior frosting of the wall surrounding the ice freezing evaporatorl or separating it from the warmer storage space. It will be understood that an insulated housing may be extended entirely around the ice cube freezing evaporator, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator, a base, an open topped evaporator, positioned on said base, surrounding and circumferentially dening a storage space, a layer of insulation underlying and surrounding said evaporator, and a storage cabinet positioned above said evaporator, the interior of the cabinet being in communication with the storage space surrounded by said evaporator, said cabinet including insulated walls, top and door, and food supporting means mounted on said door and and circumferentially defining a storage space,

a layer of insulation underlying and surroundingsaid evaporator, and a storage cabinet positioned above said evaporator, the interior of the cabinet being in communication with the storage space surrounded by said evaporator, said cabinet including insulated walls, top and door, said open topped evaporator and said storage cabinet being generally cylindrical and general concentric.

5. In a refrigerator, a base, a compressorcondenser unit mounted on said base, generally cylindrical open topped evaporator mounted on said base, defining a low temperature storage space, insulation surrounding and underlying said evaporator, a cabinet positioned above said evaporator and defining a higher temperature storage space, said cabinet having insulated walls,`

top and door of substantially thinner insulation than that which surrounds said evaporator, said door constituting the sole access means both to the interior of said upper cabinet and to the interior of said evaporator.

6. In a refrigerator, an insulated cabinet having upper and lower portions, the upper portion having a vertical door opening, a well type evaporator in the lower portion surrounding a lower storage space located at a level below said door opening, a substantially smaller evaporator located adjacent the level of the top of the doorl opening and being located in an upper storage space deiined by the upper portion of the cabinet,

and means for supplying refrigerant to said evaporators at substantially the same'pressure including a common compressor-condenser unit for the two evaporators, the evaporators being connected .thereto in series, the lower evaporator having a refrigerant surface of sufficient area to cool the lower storage space it surrounds to a temperature of the order of the temperature of the refrigerant, the upper evaporator being adapted to cool the upper storage space of the 40 higher than the temperature of the lower portion of the cabinet, the spaces cooled by the two evaporators being in direct communication.

7. In a domestic refrigerator, a base, an open topped evaporator having a circumferential wall surrounding and adapted to cool alower storage space, insulating bottom and side walls surrounding said evaporator and constituting therewith a lower housing, means for cycling a volatile refrigerant through said evaporator and about said storage space, an additional upper housing extending above said evaporator and surrounding an upper storage space located above but in direct communication with the storage space surrounded by said open topped evaporator, an upper evaporator in an upper part of said upper storage space, and means for cycling a refrigerant therethrough, the surface of said upper evaporator opposed to the storage space being of substantially less area than the surface of said rst mentioned evaporator opposed to the storage space. said upper housing including an insulating door.

8.'A In a domestic refrigerator, a base, an open topped evaporator having a circumferential wall surrounding and adapted to cool a lower storage space, insulating bottom and side walls surrounding said evaporator and constituting therewith a lower housing, means for cycling a volatile refrigerant through said evaporator and about said storage space, an additional upper housing extending above said evaporator and surrounding f an upper storage space located above but in direct communication with the storage space surrounded by said open topped evaporator, an upper 8 evaporator in an upper space, and means for cycling a refrigerant therethrough, the surface of said upper evaporator opposed tothe storage space being of substantially less area than the surface of said rst mentioned evaporator opposed to the storage space, said upper housing including an insulating door, said upper evaporator including a plurality of horizontal portions spaced downwardly below the top of the `upper storage space and inwardly from the sides of the upper. storage space, and in alignment with said insulating door.

WILLARD L. MORRISON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,838,954 Muiiiy Dec. 29, 1931 1,840,738 Percival Jan. 12, 1932 1,941,906 Marinsky Jan. 2, 1934 1,985,381 Richards Dec. 25, 1934 2,079,349 Heitman May 4, 1937 2,112,980 Berry Apr. 5, 1938 2,156,668 Staggs May 2, 1939 2,215,665 Hedlund Sept. 24, 1940 2,272,302 Krackowizer Feb. 10, 1942 2,340,780 Torbensen Feb. 1, 1944 2,356,779 Morrison Aug. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS l Number Country Date 480,988 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1938 part o! said upper storage 

